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At this point you’re probably tired of hearing how Barcelona is overrated, expensive, overcrowded, this, that and the other.
Listen, we’re not here to celebrate Spain’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan, sun-drenched coastal city.
If you can get past the touristy tapas bars slinging watered-down sangria for $10 each, the bustling crowds on La Rambla, and take Insta-perfect Sagrada Família patio photos, it can really be a lot of fun.
But maybe flying to Spain this summer to relaxrelax and really enjoy yourself, without endless lines or competing against dozens of smart European holidaymakers for beach space who know exactly how to game the system.
In that case, leave Mediterranean Spain and head north to the Atlantic coast.
Being here 4 absolutely underrated Spanish gems with much less crowds (and prices) that you don’t want to miss this year:
A Coruna
Galicia
Tucked away in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, A Coruña is probably Spain’s most underrated coastal destination for a relaxing beach holiday… with a touch of ancient culture.
The local “Barceloneta” is the crescent-shaped Playa de RiazorSandwiched between glass buildings and an azure blue Atlantic Ocean, an excellent place for sunbathing and summer surfing. Playa de Orzán practically borders Riazor and is just as picturesque and slightly quieter than the main area.
This isn’t the Mediterranean: the North Atlantic Ocean can feel quite invigorating, even in summer, but trust me, a dip in the cold water at 28°C is all the refreshment you need. Well, that and an ice-cold pint of Estrella Galicia from one of the beach bars.
Besides the beach, you might want to put on your walking shoes because you’ll be exploring quite a bit of the city’s sights.
A Coruña has one labyrinthine old town dotted with historic buildingsfrom the arcaded Plaza de María Pita to the postcard-ready Avenida de la Marina, lined with wall-to-wall galleries with glass facades that earned it the nickname “City of Glass”.
The wow factor you’ve been waiting for is a 35-minute scenic coastal walk from the heart of the ancient city: the Tower of Hercules, a perfectly preserved Roman lighthouse from the 1st centurythe last of its kind still standing, situated on a grassy headland high above the wild Atlantic sea.
Average prices in A Coruña
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €13.50 ($14.70)
- 3-course menu in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €35–€60 ($38–$65)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €60–€110 ($65–$120)
- Local transport (one-way bus/tram): €1.30 ($1.40)
- Average entrance fee to museums: €3–€8 ($3–$9)
*Averages taken from price comparison tools such as Numbeo and BudgetYourTrip
Make sure you check the latest travel advisories for Spain before your trip.
San Sebastián | Donostia
Basque Country
The city with two names– San Sebastián for Spanish speakers, Donostia in native Euskera – this is that laid-back coastal town with half the hustle and bustle of Sitges you’ve been longing for.
Located on the Bay of Biscay, a crystal-clear water gem in the Basque Country, San Sebastián features Playa de la Concha, a long crescent-shaped beach surrounded by picturesque waterfront houses and seafood terraces.
It do gets lively in the summer, but that’s about it nowhere near the mafia scenes of the Costa Brava.
You share the sand with dozens of locals, and perhaps the odd cross-border visitor from the French Basque Country, but hardly any lederhosen, beer enthusiasts who stake out spots on the sand as early as 6am. Yep, no gammon-colored, Speedo-clad Hans in socks and flip-flops.
Then again, maybe there are some rowdy frog-eating day trippers from nearby Bayonne and Biarritz. Still, there’s nothing you can’t handle with one tinto de verano in hand.
But the city’s main attraction? A cobbled old town with winding streets flanked by colorful houses, pintxo bars (the Basque equivalent of tapas) and five-star restaurants, helmed by award-winning chefs. In that regard, Paco Bueno’s fried squid and shrimp will send you straight to heaven.
By the way, you will soon be able to fly non-stop directly from New York to the Basque Country. These flights land in Bilbao, the largest city in the region, a short 1h13 journey to Donostia.
Average prices in San Sebastian | Donostia
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €18.50 ($20.20)
- 3-course menu in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €30–€60 ($33–$65)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €55–€95 ($60–$104)
- Local transport (one-way bus/tram): €1.85 ($2.00)
- Average entrance fee to museums: €6–€15 ($7–$16)
Santander
Cantabria
If you’re looking for that real, authentic Spanish city, without the performative flamenco and touristy sangria, there’s no better choice than vibrant Santander… also on the North Atlantic coast. Do you see a pattern here?
Forget the overly polished, Disney-esque historic center with brightly colored but fake facades and flower-adorned aperitif patios whose sole purpose seems to be to lure Instagram influencers.
Santander is what you go for raucous street marketslocal neighborhoods where tourists are in the minority rather than ubiquitous, and really big beaches that are so wide you feel like you’re in your own private corner of the coast.
Please note, this is not Donostia: don’t expect a full Old World atmosphere.
Unfortunately, much of the historic city was destroyed in a fire in 1941, so what you see today is largely 20th-century urban reconstruction.
There is a cathedral, but it is quite small and not particularly photogenic. Now, where Santander’s personality really hits is El Sardinerothe local answer to Rio’s Ipanema, with wide avenues, wide squares and a bourgeois coast lined with Belle Époque mansions.
La Magdalena, a peninsula jutting out into Santander Bay, is also not to be missed: walkways leading to secret coves virtually empty to visitors, epic viewpoints with sweeping coastal vistas, and the monumental Palacio de la Magdalena, a beautiful British-style residence built as the summer home of the Spanish royal family.
No medieval lore, but old money vibrates through and through.
Average prices in Santander
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €15 ($16.35)
- 3-course menu in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €50 ($54.50)
- Budget hotel (per night): €30–€50 ($33–$55)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €50–€80 ($55–$87)
- Local transport (one-way bus/tram): €1.30 ($1.40)
- Average entrance fee to museums: €6–€10 ($7–$11)
Before planning your trip to Santander, check the real-time traveler safety score applicable to Spain:
Gijón
Asturias
Coruña’s more unusual sister, Gijón in neighboring Asturias, is the quintessential leisure hub of Spain’s Atlantic coast, with a rich maritime heritage, miles of unspoilt beaches and a picture-perfect old quarter to match.
The main beach, Playa de San Lorenzo, is located right in the city center that is the beauty of Gijón: anyway a medium-sized coastal hub with over 240,000 inhabitants, everywhere you need to be is a short walk away.
You can walk from the historic district to the waterfront in minutes, bury your feet in the soft, golden sand and soak up the Iberian sun… minus the maddening hustle and bustle of southern Spain.
Speaking of the historic district, Cimadevilla is that postcard, Instagram-ready, European beauty spot you’ve been waiting for.
Perched on a hill overlooking a beautiful bay, it offers narrow cobbled streets, traditional Asturian townhouses (up to two to three stories, often painted in soft pastel colours) and that authentic, lived-in feeling. The wishes of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
What I love about Gijón is it strong regional character: strong Asturian accents, a fishing village feel even though it is a bustling port, and sidrerías (cider bars) pouring homemade sidra straight from barrels, paired with local cabrales cheese and savory great– a white bean and chorizo stew (sometimes loaded with black pudding and bacon).
Yes, Hearty doesn’t even begin to cover it.
You’ll feel that sneaky siesta before you finish your last sip of frothy beer, but that’s the whole spirit of Gijón: slowly exploring, lingering and hopping from tapas bar to tapas bar.
Average prices in Gijon
- Meal in a local tapas bar: €15 ($16.35)
- 3-course menu in a mid-range restaurant (for 2 people): €42 ($45.80)
- Budget hotel (per night): €35–€50 ($38–$55)
- 3-star hotel (per night): €50–€75 ($55–$82)
- Local transport (one-way bus/tram): €1.50 ($1.65)
- Average entrance fee to museums: €4–€10 ($4–$11)
From mandatory fingerprints to e-Visas, Spain will soon change its entry requirements. Make sure you know the applicable travel rules to avoid being denied boarding at the airport.
